Valium Bust Strands Kiwi Teen In Phuket

[lioness]

This kid comes to Thailand and disrespects the Thai people with his drug usage? Why didn't he stay at home if he wanted to abuse drugs? Thai government must keep a hard line on this type of trouble making by farang. I think he deserves a few months inside to sober up.

You should go read the thread about the naked

Thai man who got slashed by a meat clever.

That persons would be crimes were much worse

that this Aussie who doubt the pills over the counter.

He's a Kiwi, not an Aussie.

[moetownblues]

This kid comes to Thailand and disrespects the Thai people with his drug usage? Why didn't he stay at home if he wanted to abuse drugs? Thai government must keep a hard line on this type of trouble making by farang. I think he deserves a few months inside to sober up.

You should go read the thread about the naked

Thai man who got slashed by a meat clever.

That persons would be crimes were much worse

that this Aussie who doubt the pills over the counter.

He's a Kiwi, not an Aussie.

Ok the original post mentions he was Kiwi and Aussie. Regardless he is a druggie and should rot in a thai jail/goal well done thai officials for stopping him getting back to his home land and corrupting other inocent kids. GO THAILAND...... Die in a thai jail I say slow and miserable death because that is what you deserve

Edited January 19, 2010 by moetownblues

[dmax]

bloody typical of the thai police, i buy these over the counter in every pharmacy in thailand when ive just finished a weekend bender on the beer. feel sorry for this poor lad. the police should first go to the pharmacies who are selling them !!

its all about the money !!

[Credo]

It sounds like a few posters here need to take a chill pill. Pretty hostile remarks for a prescription drug.

[moetownblues]

It sounds like a few posters here need to take a chill pill. Pretty hostile remarks for a prescription drug.

presciption drug yes but children do not get scripts for such a drug

[Credo]

It would appear that children can go into a pharmacy and just buy them without any repercussions from the police. The 'child' can be detained and prevented from being reunited with his family, but still the drug peddler gets no punishment whatsoever.

I am not trying to defend his drug usage. I am questioning the enforcement of the law. If it is a controlled substance, then pharmacies should not be allowed to sell it without a prescription. If anything, he should be held to testify against the supplier.

[moetownblues]

It would appear that children can go into a pharmacy and just buy them without any repercussions from the police. The 'child' can be detained and prevented from being reunited with his family, but still the drug peddler gets no punishment whatsoever.

I am not trying to defend his drug usage. I am questioning the enforcement of the law. If it is a controlled substance, then pharmacies should not be allowed to sell it without a prescription. If anything, he should be held to testify against the supplier.

Why are the parents back home? Why are they not in Thailand to help thier son? where there with him at the time and then fled and left him as the meat or did he come to thailand alone to buy the drugs.

[webfact]

Kiwi teen in Phuket court tomorrow

PHUKET: A 17-year-old New Zealander arrested in Patong for possession of diazepam pills remains stranded in Phuket, where local police admit they are not seeking to arrest the seller of the drugs.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a police source told the Gazette his team asked the teenager where he bought the pills, but the youth declined to answer.

“He had the right to say nothing when asked a question he didn’t want to answer,” the source said. “But he accepted the charges against him.”

“Normally, if we know where a suspect bought Valium we check the shop,” he said. “If they don’t have a license to sell the drug or they’ve sold it without a prescription, we arrest them as well.”

The young Kiwi, due to appear in Juvenile Court tomorrow, cannot be named under Thai law. He has confessed to the charges against him.

In the early hours of December 7, he got on the back of a motorcycle taxi with nine diazepam pills, more commonly known as Valium, stashed in his pocket.

When Kathu Police officers saw the pair riding over a section of sidewalk on the Patong beach road, they stopped and searched the pair and arrested the young Kiwi.

More than five weeks after he was originally due to fly home, he remains in Phuket on bail.

“We’re trying to hurry up the process for him because we understand that he has to go back to school,” the source said.

Recently released statistics from the Phuket Provincial Police show this was the only arrest for diazepam possession in Phuket in 2009.

Over the same period, police seized 253 pills and 8 grams of alprazolam (trade name Xanax), arresting 18 people.

While such drugs are difficult to obtain without a prescription in most parts of Thailand, they remain readily available in tourist centers such as Patong.

High-ranking sources in the Phuket Provincial Health Office said shops registered with their office to sell category four drugs are allowed to do so on a discretionary basis and in small amounts – typically 10 pills or fewer.

Such shops must have a license and most have a Thai-language sign indicating that such prescription medications are available there over the counter.

Other big sellers in such shops include erectile dysfunction drugs like sildenafil citrate (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis).

Drug arrests in Thailand carry stiff penalties for adults, but the Juvenile Court system is based more on rehabilitation than punishment. First time offenders are seldom incarcerated for small seizures unless they are associated with violent crimes.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-01-19

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[dom samui]

Speaking on condition of anonymity...

“Normally, if we know where a suspect bought Valium we check the shop,” ...

“If they don’t have a license to sell the drug or they’ve sold it without a prescription, we arrest them as well.”...

While such drugs are difficult to obtain without a prescription in most parts of Thailand...

High-ranking sources in the Phuket Provincial Health Office said shops registered with their office to sell category four drugs are allowed to do so on a discretionary basis and in small amounts – typically 10 pills or fewer....

Such shops must have a license and most have a Thai-language sign indicating that such prescription medications are available there over the counter......

Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla ! >>>>>>> saving of face.

“He had the right to say nothing when asked a question he didn’t want to answer,” the source said. “But he accepted the charges against him.” >>>>>>>>>>>> good advise and best thing to do here, we all know .

Kiwi teen in Phuket court tomorrow...>>>>>>>>>>>>>> passport back. End of the story.

[ScubaBuddha]

“It is illegal to possess prescription drugs without a prescription, but in Phuket we’re not so strict as this is a tourist place,” he said. “We grant permission to pharmacies to sell the drugs, but they need to report to the PPHO first.”

Read "We allow pharmacies to sell the illegal drug to tourists then report to us who they sold it to so we can catch them at the airport and extort money from them.

[Daewoo]

I just don't understand what the point is here...

The BiB stop a kid on a moto-taxi, expecting to find drugs on him, and giving them the opportunity for a shakedown... the kid refuses to pay... what is in it for them to arrest and charge him???

Once he is 'in the system', surely the original BiB isn't going to get any money right???

Can someone explain what I am missing...

Cheers,

Daewoo

[anon8]

Daewoo, i think the officer got upset over the lack of co operation from kid. "Wha!? No money!? Not even 2000, ok, 1000??"

And then it goes like.. "alright, we'll see about that!" and the kid, thinking whats the worst that can happen probably told the cop to go perform some activity on himself. Kid simply did not know about the power of the dark side.

Poor kid, I feel for him.. rotting in some jail over 10 tablets of THE most harmless trangualizer.. bad luck, needs to make merit, I guess.

I have been stopped at Ekamai 2 times within 1 year, when I was stupid enough not to take taxi. Officers only went through pockets, especially jeans little coin pockets.. and wallet.

Even knowing there's nothing to be found on me, it is an unpleasant experience.. cos even if there's nothing there, something can be found. I take taxi now to bkk.

[Daewoo]

And then it goes like.. "alright, we'll see about that!" and the kid, thinking whats the worst that can happen probably told the cop to go perform some activity on himself. Kid simply did not know about the power of the dark side.

I guess it could have been a face saving thing for the cop... although, I would have thought the kid would know to pay off and walk as quickly as possible... and I would have thought it wouldn't be worth the trouble for the cop if he isn't going to get any cash out of it...

I am in New Zealand this week, apparetly the kid went to a good private school, there is no mention of the kid getting into any sort of arguement with the cop... unlike the Aussie slag who stole the bar mat...

I guess it is also likely that the cop doesn't know that Valium isn't really a party drug, so actually just followed the law... farang with drugs equals lock-up... not so different to other countries I guess where cops knowingly on unknowingly enforce stupid laws...

Cheers,

Daewoo

Edited January 19, 2010 by Daewoo

[Jingthing]

Of course it is reasonable to assume that if a pharmacy sells you a med (scrip or no scrip as the vast majority of meds are available with no scrip all over Thailand) that the medication is legal. Some of us who have been here awhile learn about these police scams (in which the pharmacies themselves are sometimes involved) over this issue, but to expect a casual tourist to understand about that is ridiculous.

If that boy is a criminal, so are over 90 percent of the foreigners in Thailand in one way or another. The jails aren't big enough, but the pockets of the police certainly are.

If someone buys yaa baa from a street dealer they KNOW they are committing a crime. If they buy a packed labeled medication from a pharmacist, how are people supposed to know when that is legal and when illegal?

Edited January 20, 2010 by Jingthing

[scorecard]

To motownblues,

Why are you so quick to give this 17 year high school boy such seriously negative and strong labels like: drug addict and criminal? And comments like: rot in jail.

Where's your evidence to suppose these strong words. I scanned the thread and I canot see any information whatever which suggests or supports terms like drug addict and criminal.

For all you, and i, know:

- Maybe the kid is quite naive and someone suggested he buy valium so he could sleep, there are many people of all ages in all countries who have sleep or anxiety problems. Maybe when he saw it in a package on open sale in what appears to be a profesional pharmacy shop he assumed it was simply a normal everyday pharmacy item.

- Maybe he already knows the name because it's been prescribed for him before for sleep or anxiety or depression problems and when he saw it on open sale he bought it for his known problems and his knowledge of how to deal with these problems.

I say again, why are you so fast to label this high school boy as a criminal etc?

Do you have any kids? If you do, would you like to thing people gave them some benefirt of the doubt if they do something naive?

On a different angle of this story, it surprises me that almost no new information has come to light since the original post.

[harleyclarkey]

Other big sellers in such shops include erectile dysfunction drugs like sildenafil citrate (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis).

Drug arrests in Thailand carry stiff penalties for adults,

Is the penalty just as stiff for buying Viagra??

Edited January 20, 2010 by harleyclarkey

[harleyclarkey]

Is he from New Zealand or Australia? These are two different countries. Any we all know the laws regarding drugs in Thailand so I hope he enjoys the BKK Hilton for the next few years. In Australia possession without a script carries a prison sentence also. I have locked up a few of these druggies myself.

Ah....yet another member of the holier than thou, hang 'em high, rot in jail, shoot 'em, arm chair general, brigade.

Seems this filthy low life drug pusher and abuser had the disgraceful quantity of ...wait for it.....NINE pills. Wow Moetown......this freak should be shot. Yep brother, I'm all for shooting kids with this huge quantity of deadly drugs, Nah, hold on. Let him rot in jail as you suggest.

But hang on let's start at the top , with the real dealers......all those fine, respectable doctors in the States and other Western countries where they have hooked many of their patients on Valium knowing full well what they were doing.

A young 17 year old naive kid with a miserable pathetic 9 pills?? Have you seen above just what this disgraceful episode by by a totally discredited and corrupt police force...can you even call them police....has cost him and his family. The streets of Thailand are awash with Meth/Yaba and the cops pick up 9 sleeping tablets. Geez....how sick is this society??

Get a life man.......come into the sunlight for a change.

Edited January 20, 2010 by harleyclarkey

[Jingthing]

I don't really believe anybody seriously believes this kid is a serious criminal. Certainly not the police who arrested him. Those here who are playing that game are just trying to get a rise.

[Hawk]

In Australia possession without a script carries a prison sentence also. I have locked up a few of these druggies myself.

Typical arrogant but ignorant pig.

[harleyclarkey]

I don't really believe anybody seriously believes this kid is a serious criminal. Certainly not the police who arrested him. Those here who are playing that game are just trying to get a rise.

Guess you are right JT....I shouldn't rise to it. Nobody can be for real writing rubbish like it, but I cant' stop myself replying when I see drivel like that from others above.

Edited January 20, 2010 by harleyclarkey

[JulesMad]

The boys in brown now can just wait outside any pharmacy, and upon signal from the pharmacist make the arrest for a couple of valiums.

How can it be that it is illegal to have them in your possession, but legal to buy?????

There are so many more harmful drugs sold by pharmacies, just over the counter. This is not a matter of TIT, but more of TIFT

Good Luck to the kiwi guy!!! I am on his side

Thailand just lost another tourist

[manarak]

Daewoo, i think the officer got upset over the lack of co operation from kid. "Wha!? No money!? Not even 2000, ok, 1000??"

And then it goes like.. "alright, we'll see about that!" and the kid, thinking whats the worst that can happen probably told the cop to go perform some activity on himself. Kid simply did not know about the power of the dark side.

Poor kid, I feel for him.. rotting in some jail over 10 tablets of THE most harmless trangualizer.. bad luck, needs to make merit, I guess.

I have been stopped at Ekamai 2 times within 1 year, when I was stupid enough not to take taxi. Officers only went through pockets, especially jeans little coin pockets.. and wallet.

Even knowing there's nothing to be found on me, it is an unpleasant experience.. cos even if there's nothing there, something can be found. I take taxi now to bkk.

that and I guess we can blame it on a lack of experience from the 17 yo... he didn't recognize the moment when to yield to the cop and let the things run their course.

fatal error in Thailand, you have to resolve the "case", i.e. make it a non-issue before the charges are recorded.

[Jimjim1968]

This is a really horrible story. Poor kid. My mum used to give me half a valium when I was about 13 or 14 to help me sleep. He should get an official apology and the cops should know their stuff.

[moetownblues]

In Australia possession without a script carries a prison sentence also. I have locked up a few of these druggies myself.

Typical arrogant but ignorant pig.

It is not the quantity but simply the fact he broke the law and was subsequently arrested. Don't blame the Thai Police they were simply doing the job they are paid to do. I have arrested and charged kids for having less than this kid did. I to was simply doing my job. Yes I know people will cry bloody police ruin a kids life and it is the police fault that he/ they end up with a criminal conviction. The police did not give it to him. It was he alone that set the wheels in motion not the police.

[Scott]

I am not faulting the police for doing there job. I am faulting them for only doing 1/2 their job--the other half being the supplier. In this case, I am sure it wouldn't have taken much arm twisting to get him to tell where he got it. And even if it did, I am sure it wouldn't have taken too much investigative work to check his room for a bag from the pharmacy, a receipt etc.

Or maybe the ones who decide to prosecute could decide it's not the best case because of a conflict in the law.

[nasajsc]

...how the hel l can can you still have the script to show the police cause now the chemist has it

You can't. After your arrest you have to wait for the court hearing and have the pharmacist testify that he sold you the medicine against a doctor's prescription and/or have the doctor testify that he prescribed you the medicine. That is if the legal situation is indeed as quoted by the Police Superintendent. If there were a more complicated procedure, I am sure the Thai lawmakers would have thought of it and implemented it.

if you are very worried about this, pay 1 baht for a photocopy, or snap a picture with your mobile phone, not

really that much of an issue

[moetownblues]

I am not faulting the police for doing there job. I am faulting them for only doing 1/2 their job--the other half being the supplier. In this case, I am sure it wouldn't have taken much arm twisting to get him to tell where he got it. And even if it did, I am sure it wouldn't have taken too much investigative work to check his room for a bag from the pharmacy, a receipt etc.

Or maybe the ones who decide to prosecute could decide it's not the best case because of a conflict in the law.

I am sure that the Kid would have told the police where he purchased the drugs if he did indeed get them from a chemist. I know in Aust the chemists keep registers of such things and there is a very strong audit trail on thier movements. I don't know if Thailand has such proceedures if they did it would the 1st line of inquiry and very quick and simple to check. The point of having or not having a script is not the issue has been charged for possession without a script.

In Australia if a chemist sold or supplied such drugs without a script then they will be definately be charged with trafficking. I am sure that the same would apply in Thailand. If the police asked the thai pharmacist if he sold the drugs to the kid I am sure they are not going to put thier hand up to trafficking. I guess it comes down to the word of a 17 yr old farang kid against the word of Thai proffessional.

[kirk0233]

I am not faulting the police for doing there job. I am faulting them for only doing 1/2 their job--the other half being the supplier. In this case, I am sure it wouldn't have taken much arm twisting to get him to tell where he got it. And even if it did, I am sure it wouldn't have taken too much investigative work to check his room for a bag from the pharmacy, a receipt etc.

Or maybe the ones who decide to prosecute could decide it's not the best case because of a conflict in the law.

The worldwide obsession with controlling people's bodies, what they ingest, for religious, political, or value laden reasons is absurd. The criminalization of valium, a mild sedative, that does not harm anyone unless you are operating a motor vehicle is big brother gone mad. Why do people so quickly give up their rights to their bodies and so quickly wish to take away other person's right to theirs? The sad part of this whole story is a potentialy ruined life over the pathetically archaic view that a person's right to control his or her body is superceded by a society that believes it has a better understanding of what is right for someone to eat.

[harleyclarkey]

In Australia possession without a script carries a prison sentence also. I have locked up a few of these druggies myself.

It is not the quantity but simply the fact he broke the law and was subsequently arrested. Don't blame the Thai Police they were simply doing the job they are paid to do. I have arrested and charged kids for having less than this kid did. I to was simply doing my job. Yes I know people will cry bloody police ruin a kids life and it is the police fault that he/ they end up with a criminal conviction. The police did not give it to him. It was he alone that set the wheels in motion not the police.

That's not the point.

It is that the Thai police do NOT enforce the law fairly as they are charged to do in every civilised country that is free of police corruption. They have chosen, and no doubt the facts will come out, to ruin a young mans holiday and maybe even his life with a conviction for a paltry 9 medical pills. He seemingly is a good kid from a good family out having fun. The whole incident is a disgrace.

The streets are awash with Yaba ...but then it the Thais that, in the vast majority of cases, possess, deal in and use this dreadful drug. The Thai police ignore this as there is clearly no back hander with a poor local.

Yes. They are paid (miserably) to do a job. It is the way they do it that angers so many of us here.

Simple.....one law for the foreigner (shake down) and one for the local Thai. This is NOT justice.

Edited January 21, 2010 by harleyclarkey

[coalminer]

In Australia possession without a script carries a prison sentence also. I have locked up a few of these druggies myself.

It is not the quantity but simply the fact he broke the law and was subsequently arrested. Don't blame the Thai Police they were simply doing the job they are paid to do. I have arrested and charged kids for having less than this kid did. I to was simply doing my job. Yes I know people will cry bloody police ruin a kids life and it is the police fault that he/ they end up with a criminal conviction. The police did not give it to him. It was he alone that set the wheels in motion not the police.

That's not the point.

It is that the Thai police do NOT enforce the law fairly as they are charged to do in every civilised country that is free of police corruption. They have chosen, and no doubt the facts will come out, to ruin a young mans holiday and maybe even his life with a conviction for a paltry 9 medical pills. He seemingly is a good kid from a good family out having fun. The whole incident is a disgrace.

The streets are awash with Yaba ...but then it the Thais that, in the vast majority of cases, possess, deal in and use this dreadful drug. The Thai police ignore this as there is clearly no back hander with a poor local.

Yes. They are paid (miserably) to do a job. It is the way they do it that angers so many of us here.

Simple.....one law for the foreigner (shake down) and one for the local Thai. This is NOT justice.

You guys are amazing.

There IS NO JUSTICE in Thailand.

In the house next to mine, the THAI owners have a gambling house (casino) with cards, a roulette, and other gambling stuff.

The house has already been the subject of a bombing and regularly there are fightings on the street.

But the owners of the house are paying every month 7,000 Baht to the Keystone Cops and in return they get protection from the same Keystone Cops.

Yes, the Police in Thailand are paid miserably.

But they do their job miserably.

The whole story with this kid is a signal to the fahrangs in Thailand and abroad.

The Thais want QUALTY tourists who can spend a millions or 2 in a week.